The birth of a child is both a joyful and exciting event. If young parents are planning on having twins, then the expectation takes on a double magnitude. Very often, the expectant mother thinks that there is not enough breast milk for two children, and begins to plan what formula she will use after giving birth. Fortunately, such thoughts are wrong; with the right approach and attitude, breastfeeding will be the key to the good health of both babies and the peace of mind of the mother.
Feeding twins is a difficult experience for a woman
Mothers of twins have doubts about breastfeeding
All young mothers, immediately after the birth of twins, worry whether it is worth breastfeeding and whether there will be enough milk for two babies. Many people think that it is easier to immediately stop breastfeeding and start feeding their children formula. It is necessary to understand that breastfeeding is a natural process, artificial feeding is not very convenient and quite expensive.
Is there enough milk?
Immediately after birth, the process of producing colostrum occurs; it will be enough to feed two babies for 2-4 days. Further, the more often you feed your babies, the more milk will be produced. At first, children need to be fed only on demand, so that the mother’s body understands how much milk is needed for children and is able to produce the required portions. If the children are not with their mother all the time, she will need to express milk all the time in order to establish the correct lactation process and not lose it completely.
When is the due date for a multiple pregnancy?
A woman expecting several babies at once usually has a shorter pregnancy. The birth of twins can be expected as early as 35 weeks, triplets at 33, and quadruplets starting at 29. After the birth of twins, doctors surround the newborns with special care. And the birth of three or more babies requires the closest attention, because in the vast majority of cases such twins are born premature.
For a woman carrying several children, the likelihood of becoming a mother before her due date increases significantly. Doctors will try to do everything to prolong the pregnancy as much as possible, but the woman herself should not risk the future of her babies. At the very least, she needs to monitor her diet and health, breathe fresh air, and avoid psychological stress and excessive physical activity.
Organization of the feeding process
How to feed twins at the same time? Since feeding twins with breast milk is very difficult, it puts a lot of stress on the entire body, the mother must get enough sleep and eat a balanced diet, as well as be in a good mood. It is very important that someone helps the mother in everyday matters, since heavy workload and fatigue reduce milk production.
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To stimulate milk production, twins should breastfeed as often as possible. At first, you need to feed the babies on demand. Then it is better to switch to breastfeeding twins according to a certain regimen - this will help organize the daily routine and it will be much easier for the mother.
Attention! When breastfeeding, it is important to drink plenty of fluids, preferably before feeding. You can drink warm water, tea, milk.
Twins with mom
Hygienic care for twins - how to bathe?
Bathing twin children is a test of parents' organization and ability to approach this issue creatively. At first, when babies do not yet know how to sit well, it is better to bathe children separately. Then confidently sitting children will find it very interesting and fun to swim together. Parents can only admire their happy babies and make sure that there is no quarrel over a toy. When you take turns bathing your children, consider the following:
- Bathe the noisier baby first , because... if he waits for his brother or sister to bathe, he may throw a tantrum;
- After bathing, feed the baby , and then bathe the next one.
- Prepare for swimming in advance : prepare the things you will wear after water procedures; Place creams, powders, etc. nearby.
Maternity hospital and the beginning of feeding
If the birth took place naturally, the children were born on time and feel well, then they will be put to the breast immediately after birth in the delivery room. The mother will be with the babies from the very beginning and will feed them on demand.
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This will not be easy, it is better to immediately ask the medical staff to help with starting feeding, to show how to properly attach the baby to the breast, how you can feed two children at once. In a private maternity hospital or paid ward, you can contact a lactation consultant.
If twins are born with low birth weight or prematurely, they are taken to a room for premature babies. In this case, if the mother is also in the maternity hospital, she is allowed to come, take the babies out of the incubator and feed them. If a mother and children are separated, then they need to express milk at least eight times a day and pass it on to the newborns.
Breastfeeding Twins, Good Tips for Expressing Milk:
- To make expressing easier, especially for an inexperienced mother, you can take a warm shower, massage your breasts and drink a glass of warm tea or milk.
- You need to pump each breast for about 15-20 minutes.
- It is best to express your breasts one at a time, for example, for three minutes at a time, or buy a special breast pump that will express both breasts at the same time.
At first, breast milk may not be enough for two children. It may be necessary to introduce supplementary feeding. You must always remember that any amount of milk is very beneficial for the child’s health.
Note! Colostrum is a very important product for newborns, even if it is only a small amount.
Newborn twins in the maternity hospital
Can a woman have twins during her first birth?
Anything is possible. You remember that multiple pregnancies can be identical or fraternal? The likelihood of developing identical twins is the same for all women. In both the first and subsequent births, twins of identical babies are born in approximately 4 out of 1000 pregnancies.
Fraternal twins appear for another reason - due to hyperovulation, i.e. the maturation of two or more eggs in one cycle. The following factors influence this:
- Use of fertility drugs.
- Recent discontinuation of hormonal contraceptives or irregular use of contraceptives.
- Obesity, i.e. body mass index above 305.
- Genetic predisposition. If you have a twin yourself, or if your mother or your sister gave birth to twins, your chances are higher than the average natural probability of having twins.
- Height. Tall women are more likely to become mothers of fraternal twins.
- Woman's age. The likelihood of multiple pregnancy increases after 35 years of age.
Features of feeding twins in the first postpartum month
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Organizing the feeding process for two children at the same time is not easy. The mother should give the breast as soon as she notices signs of searching (the baby begins to smack his lips, turns his head from side to side, sucks his finger). In this case, you need to adapt and offer the breast to the second child as well. The baby is put to the breast every 1.5-2 hours; if you feed the children one at a time, you will have to do this every hour, and the whole day will turn into a continuous day of feeding.
Feeding twins on demand
Many pediatricians recommend that young mothers feed their newborn babies on demand. The baby should be given breastfeeding as soon as he begins to require it. Moreover, it doesn’t matter at all how much he wants to eat during the day, and whether enough time has passed since the next meal.
During the first 2-3 months after birth, you will have to get used to feeding on demand, then the children will begin to develop a kind of regime, and it will be more or less clear when they need to be fed.
Feeding twins at the same time
Night feeding for twins
Children under one year old very often confuse day and night. This is due to the fact that their regime changes several times during the first year of life. Every month the amount of sleep decreases. If babies sleep well during the day, they will not want to sleep at night, they will be active and ask for food. To correct the situation, the mother needs to create a daily routine so that the twins are well tired during the day. It is very important to adhere to the rules: the active part of wakefulness should end half an hour before the last nap of the day.
The time before bedtime should be spent in a calm environment, as children need to get ready to rest. Bathing is an excellent pre-bedtime routine that will calm children and provide them with deep, long sleep.
Even if children don’t want to sleep at night, you don’t need to talk to them, play with them or turn on the lights, they must understand that night is a time for sleep, nothing else. If you adhere to these rules, then in the future night feedings of twins will stop. If no changes are made to the regime, then children can grow up, and their regime will remain the same.
It is also very important that children get up not too late in the morning, play actively during the day, and engage in quiet games in the evening, then the night’s sleep will be calm and long.
Simultaneously or one by one?
My answer is simultaneously. Well, unless, of course, you feel sorry for yourself and you don’t have help with everyday life.
At first, getting used to the role of a mother, I tried to feed the children in turns. As a result, the feeding process turned into one continuous meal - from morning to evening and from night to morning, without my full sleep and rest.
As a result, milk began to disappear due to constant lack of sleep...
I had to introduce a regimen and organize simultaneous feeding.
Positions for feeding twins at the same time
How can you breastfeed twins at the same time? In the first months after giving birth, a young mother will have to put her babies to her breast very often, so it is important to choose the most comfortable position for feeding. You can try to apply the babies at the same time and separately, then choose the best method. There are no ideal positions; each mother must choose the most suitable options for herself by trial.
It is important to choose a position for feeding
Frequent breastfeeding takes a lot of strength, so you need to choose the most comfortable position so that not only the children, but also the mother feel comfortable.
Crisscross
Breastfeeding twins in this position means that the babies need to be positioned opposite each other so that their legs touch or cross. In this case, it is better to place babies on a special feeding pillow or support them with your hands, if necessary, helping to grasp and hold the nipple.
Lying on your back
In this position, the mother should lie on her back with a pillow under her head and shoulders. Babies should be placed on their sides and supported with their hands.
Sitting
Mom should sit down and place pillows on both sides of her. Children need to be placed on these pillows on each side. The babies' legs should be positioned towards the mother's back.
Parallel pose
In this position, the mother should sit down as comfortably as possible and place one child on her arm so that his head fits into the crook of his elbow. The second twin should be attached to the chest in the same position as the first, with his legs placed on an additional pillow parallel to the legs of the first baby.
Cross cradle
Feeding in this position is also called a “cradle”. Twins are placed in a “jack” position: their heads should be in the mother’s arms at each breast, and their legs should be crossed. Feeding children in this position is very convenient, since mother’s hands will remain free, and she will be able to help the babies if the need arises. For greater comfort, pillows can be placed under the mother’s back and elbows, as well as under each of the children.
Combining the “cradle” and the “under-arm” position
In this feeding position, one child should be placed in the classic position on the mother’s arm, in the “cradle” position, the second baby should be placed on its side at the mother’s second breast: legs behind the back, head at the chest, while the mother should sit.
How to feed twins?
FIRST DAYS
Usually, during natural childbirth, twins, as well as “single” children, are placed on the mother’s breast immediately after birth. This is necessary both for the young mother (the mechanism of milk production starts, the uterus contracts better) and for children (the colostrum that they receive in the first minutes of life contains a large amount of useful substances, including immunoglobulins, which will allow babies to resist in the future many infections). Most often, the baby who was born first tastes mother's milk first. During a caesarean section, children are put to the breast, although not immediately, but on the same day. After completing all the necessary procedures, you will be transferred to the postpartum ward, where, if there are no contraindications (caesarean section, some diseases of the mother and children), you will be able to stay in the same room with the babies. During the first few days, until the milk arrives (and this usually happens on the third or fourth day), twins are put to the breast and fed colostrum. The nutritional needs of children will most likely be fully met by the amount of colostrum that you receive, and additional feeding with artificial formula will not be required. Let's discuss the issue of supplementing newborn twins. There is a misconception that breastfed children, especially in the first days of life, need to be supplemented with food, since colostrum and mother's milk do not contain enough water. This is not true. Supplementation of children is required only for various diseases associated with the loss of large amounts of fluid and high temperature, for infectious diseases, as well as for hemolytic disease of newborns. Colostrum and milk contain substances necessary to meet all the needs of a newborn. Colostrum prepares the child’s gastrointestinal tract for the absorption of real milk, promotes the formation of “correct” intestinal flora, and the prevention of intestinal infectious diseases. On the third or fourth day after birth, the mammary glands begin to produce milk. At the same time, they become rude and the woman may develop a fever. To prevent rapid breast thickening, you should consume no more than 700–800 g of fluid per day in the first few days after birth. In the future, when the feeding rhythm is established and the danger of milk stagnation has passed, this restriction will be lifted. The qualified staff of the postpartum department will help you cope with this, perhaps the most unpleasant moment of the postpartum period.
FEED AT THE SAME TIME...
Of course, the first few days at home will seem like a nightmare: you're left alone with newborns without 24-hour medical support and now torn between childcare, feeding and the desire to sleep. But your body has not yet fully recovered from pregnancy and childbirth. And here we can wish you real endurance and patience and, of course, a good assistant. First you need to decide on the daily schedule. In the first months, when the intervals between feedings are short, it is very convenient to feed the children at the same time. True, here the opinions of mothers who have gone through feeding twins differ: some believe that choosing an acceptable position for simultaneous feeding is unrealistic, while others are happy to share their experience. You decide. You can try the following positions: 1. The mother is sitting, with a bench under her feet. The children are turned towards each other, their legs are crossed. 2. Children lie on their mother’s lap on the same pillow with their heads in different directions. 3. The mother sits with pillows on both sides on which the babies are placed, one on each side, with her feet towards the mother’s back, and the mother presses her head to her chest with her hands. 4. Mother is sitting. One of the children is in front of the mother's belly on her arm, the other is located on a pillow at her side, with his feet towards her back.
…OR IN TURN?
If you decide to feed your children in turns, a natural question will arise: who will be first? If one of the twins is weak or sick, start feeding with him. Experience shows that, as a rule, twins wake up at the same time and immediately demand attention with a loud cry. This is where your assistant will come in handy. While you are feeding one baby, you need to swaddle the other, pick it up and try to calm it down a little. Of course, with alternate feeding, you will not be able to hold a satiated baby at your breast for much longer, because his brother or sister also wants to eat. If the rhythm of sleep and feeding in children is somewhat different, then still try to accustom the children to the same routine, otherwise your day will turn into one continuous feeding. Of course, it is possible to set twins to a certain regime only if they are full-term and healthy. If children are premature, underweight, or if one child is weaker than the other, then at first both children should be fed on demand, depending on their needs. After a few weeks, the babies will get stronger and gain weight, and after consultation with the pediatrician, it will gradually be possible to make the feeding schedule common for both children. Perhaps this will happen by itself and without your intervention. Usually there is not enough milk from one breast to feed two, so each child is fed to “their own” mammary gland. After feeding, there is no need to express the remaining milk from the breast, because the body produces as much of it as required, and by expressing the breast, you give a kind of instruction that more milk is needed, creating a vicious circle: expressing residual milk - a rush of more milk. There is an opinion that before feeding, the breasts must be washed, if not with soap, then at least with water. In fact, washing your breasts with a mild cleanser while showering once a day will be enough.
CHILDREN - LUNCH, MOTHER - REST
Accumulating fatigue requires that the feeding process become a kind of rest for you. Take the most comfortable position for you, place a pillow under your back; If you are feeding while sitting, place your feet on a stand or small bench. When feeding, make sure that your baby's lips completely cover your areola, while their noses remain free. One option for alternate feeding may be the supine position, where both you and your babies lie in bed. In this case, you can put a pillow under your elbow. When choosing a lying position, try not to fall asleep: although it is believed that a sensitive mother will not crush her child, it is still better not to create dangerous situations.
YOUR MENU
Feeding twins, in addition to physical and mental strength, requires the mother to be more attentive to herself, her nutrition and rest. Try to ensure that your food contains a large amount of nutrients and is high in calories (there is no need to eat only flour products, and they are not particularly healthy for your children). Food should be rich in vitamins. During this period, as during pregnancy, it makes sense to take multivitamins. You should receive 1.5–2 liters of fluid per day (your own requirement plus secreted breast milk). A nursing mother can drink tea, compotes, and freshly squeezed juices. Give preference to dairy and fermented milk products, lean meats, and steamed foods. It must be remembered that excess nutrition and drinking do not increase the amount of milk, but are an unnecessary burden on the mother’s body. Don't forget that everything you eat inevitably ends up in your baby's milk. Therefore, exclude from your diet foods that cause food allergies (citrus fruits, raspberries, strawberries), as well as vegetables and fruits that contribute to increased gas formation - cabbage, grapes, etc. It is necessary to avoid spicy foods, canned food, sausages, fatty meats, and fried foods. You should not drink carbonated drinks while breastfeeding.
IF THERE IS STILL NOT ENOUGH MILK
Of course, in the first months of life, exclusive breastfeeding is desirable. But, if the active measures you have taken have not brought the desired results and there is not enough milk, you will have to supplement your babies with artificial formula. They are given after the breast and preferably from a spoon. The nipple of the bottle must be elastic with a small hole. If the share of breast milk in the children's diet prevails over the share of the substitute, it makes sense to offer them a fermented milk formula intended for children of this age. In situations where there is less breast milk, it is possible to use a combination of an adapted formula and a fermented milk product, or only an adapted formula.
Over time, you and your children will develop a comfortable daily routine for themselves. And then you will be able to successfully combine all your household chores with breastfeeding and fully enjoy the joy of motherhood sent to you doubly.
Mixed feeding for twins
It often happens that for some reason a mother cannot establish full breastfeeding, or she does not have enough milk for two children. In such cases, babies must be supplemented with formula or donor milk. It is best to give supplementary feeding not from a regular bottle, but from a special one, which has a spoon at the end instead of a nipple. You can also use a syringe without a needle or a cup. Breastfeeding experts recommend breastfeeding babies at least several times a day. This will help babies feel the benefits of breastfeeding over bottle feeding.
Even if there is not enough milk to fully feed two babies, mixed feeding is still better than artificial feeding. Mother's milk contains live antibodies that increase the child's immunity; no formula can replace them. Also, when the time comes to give your baby complementary foods, some of the formula feedings can be replaced with complementary foods, while maintaining breastfeeding. This way, you will be able to switch to breastfeeding plus complementary feeding, and there will be no need to use formula.
Breastfeeding two babies at once is hard work for a mother, but this does not mean that you need to deprive your babies of such nutritious breast milk. First of all, a young mother should ask her husband and other relatives to take on some of the household chores. This is the only way to establish simultaneous feeding and enjoy communication with the babies, as well as find time for yourself and your family.
What is better for twins - cesarean section or natural birth?
The final decision on delivery tactics is made by maternity hospital specialists, guided by all the information about pregnancy available to them. However, practice shows that if everything goes generally well (the gestational age at the time of birth exceeds 32 weeks, and the first twin is in a cephalic presentation, i.e., is about to emerge head first), there is no significant difference between the natural birth of twins and a cesarean section. A large study involving 106 medical centers in 25 countries showed that the risk for babies remains the same with both methods of delivery.
A caesarean section is prescribed for the breech presentation of the first twin in a twin birth. However, in this situation, surgery is recommended even during pregnancy with one baby. If twins share a common amniotic sac, doctors also usually choose a cesarean section. In other cases, there is no need to be afraid of giving birth to twins naturally - they are no more dangerous than surgery.
Distinguish between babies from birth
Parents have a great responsibility - they help the child decide, find his “I”. It is clear that in the case of the birth of twins, these efforts are multiplied by two.
After all, twins are two completely different people. Each baby has its own character, temperament, and needs.
The main mistake of parents of twins is perceiving their children as a single whole. From birth, mothers and fathers buy their children the same clothes and toys, justifying the “equalization” by the fact that children, if they have the same things, do not quarrel, trying to take away from each other what the other does not have.
As they grow older, they are enrolled in one class - sports or art. And it’s more convenient - you don’t need to plan a minute-by-minute schedule for delivering children to different addresses.
However, all efforts of parents should be aimed at developing individuality in children, teaching them to live in peace with each other, sharing toys and parental attention.
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